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What's next MB?


ICEWATER77

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Many questions remain regarding the teams offensive woes. Does MB stand pat and hope one of the young guys can play top 9 minutes? That probably won't equal additional goals. Does he get the new contracts (AG, JT) out of the way then work on a bigger deal via the trade market? Who stays? Who goes? If there's one move out there, I wouldn't mind seeing Joe Thornton come to town. Now there's a guy that could develop AG into that top line Center..because I hardly think Therrien is the answer. Anyhow, what do you think will be MB's next move? Does a move necessarily need to be made? Surely MVPrice would appreciate more goals?

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I'm taking him at his word that he wants to see if a kid can step up in camp.

But that doesn't mean that he isn't lifting every stone to see if he can make a major move, and - like Machine - I wouldn't be at all surprised if something big goes down at some point in the 2015-16 season.

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I don't think any young guy will be an impact top 6 fw though. MT would never allow it. Soon as MB realizes that said youngster is no better than a 3rd liner(maybe by Dec 1?) , something huge will happen

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I think he gives a shot for a youngster.

I also think he makes a trade nobody is expecting, since that's basically all of his trades.

Now that is a fact. You can bank on that.

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Said it many times before...

If MB goes into the season with Pleks, DD, and Eller, as his top three centres, he's failed.

You aren't winning Stanley with that down the middle, even with the best goalie in the world backing them up.

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Said it many times before...

If MB goes into the season with Pleks, DD, and Eller, as his top three centres, he's failed.

You aren't winning Stanley with that down the middle, even with the best goalie in the world backing them up.

Would it be fairer to say that if he goes into the playoffs with that configuration at C, he's failed? Because I don't see any big disaster in 'fixing' the C issue in February rather than November.

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Not worth mortgaging future for Joe Thornton.

No other upgrades at centre are available.

Habs need an upgrade at wing, especially with Paciorettys injury. Alex Semin might be worth a shot on a cheap 1 yr contract, if theres cap money left after signing Galchenyuk

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Not worth mortgaging future for Joe Thornton.

No other upgrades at centre are available.

Habs need an upgrade at wing, especially with Paciorettys injury. Alex Semin might be worth a shot on a cheap 1 yr contract, if theres cap money left after signing Galchenyuk

Personally, I agree, and doubt that a major upgrade at C is coming. It's either going to be Galchenyuk, or we're looking at second-tier centremen - either the current lot, or different guys - for the foreseeable future.

Much more likely is that Zoot adds a top-6 winger at some point between now and the 2016 trading deadline. After all, W are more plentiful than C, and even adding a 'second tier' winger would strengthen our team, while anything short of an elite C would represent a lateral move at that position. Hopefully that winger turns out not to be Semin, but rather somebody who actually wants to win and can help us do that.

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Much more likely is that Zoot adds a top-6 winger at some point between now and the 2016 trading deadline. After all, W are more plentiful than C, and even adding a 'second tier' winger would strengthen our team, while anything short of an elite C would represent a lateral move at that position. Hopefully that winger turns out not to be Semin, but rather somebody who actually wants to win and can help us do that.

The amount of legit, in their prime centres: Crosby, Seguin, Tavares, Malkin, Backstrom, Johnson, Getzlaf, Giroux, Stamkos, Johansen, Toews, Kopitar, Pavelski and Couture. Then add the young guys who are not in their prime yet like Mackinnon, Monahan and eventually Eichel and McDavid. Call it 20-25. Consider their availability. Even guys like Stamkos and Kopitar are very unlikely to be trade deadline deals. Majority have long term deals.

Next you have veteran centres out of their prime years but still elite or close to elite in offensive numbers: Thornton, Marleau, Sedin, Datsyuk, Spezza and Staal fit the bill. The problem with that list is that two of them are on teams that want them gone but they refuse to leave (Thornton, Marleau), two are career players that will retire in the only sweater they wore (Sedin, Datsyuk), one went from our division rival to out of conference (Spezza) and the last probably shouldn't be called a vet (he's only 30) but he's played so long and has had an injury history and looks to be slowing down. His team wants to keep him in Carolina and he won't move unless he asks to.

He's the only potential target and people are hoping they can get him for scraps. Maybe Ron Francis blows a circuit and deadline trades him for nothing special. Even if Bergevin got him, he'd have to then re-sign him, and he'd likely ask for a 7-8 year deal at top dollar.

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The amount of legit, in their prime centres: Crosby, Seguin, Tavares, Malkin, Backstrom, Johnson, Getzlaf, Giroux, Stamkos, Johansen, Toews, Kopitar, Pavelski and Couture. Then add the young guys who are not in their prime yet like Mackinnon, Monahan and eventually Eichel and McDavid. Call it 20-25. Consider their availability. Even guys like Stamkos and Kopitar are very unlikely to be trade deadline deals. Majority have long term deals.

Next you have veteran centres out of their prime years but still elite or close to elite in offensive numbers: Thornton, Marleau, Sedin, Datsyuk, Spezza and Staal fit the bill. The problem with that list is that two of them are on teams that want them gone but they refuse to leave (Thornton, Marleau), two are career players that will retire in the only sweater they wore (Sedin, Datsyuk), one went from our division rival to out of conference (Spezza) and the last probably shouldn't be called a vet (he's only 30) but he's played so long and has had an injury history and looks to be slowing down. His team wants to keep him in Carolina and he won't move unless he asks to.

He's the only potential target and people are hoping they can get him for scraps. Maybe Ron Francis blows a circuit and deadline trades him for nothing special. Even if Bergevin got him, he'd have to then re-sign him, and he'd likely ask for a 7-8 year deal at top dollar.

54 points is not worth 8 million a year....Is it?

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54 points is not worth 8 million a year....Is it?

If we think that's all he'll ever accomplish for the next several years (people said similar about Plekanec after 08-09) sure. Otherwise, we're looking at 168 points in 204 games and a PPG playoff performer who has driven the Hurricanes in the only two playoff years he's participated in.

I actually don't think Staal is a viable option but it's only fair to gauge him honestly. He's either a declining player or a good player on a declining team, struggling to put up the points he used to while the whole league does the same.

This and my trade proposal is all about a bigger question: media and fans alike constantly say that all the Habs need is that big number one centre. Would you be willing to see the Habs mortgage the future to acquire it? Even though that future doesn't contain the one thing we allegedly need?

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If we think that's all he'll ever accomplish for the next several years (people said similar about Plekanec after 08-09) sure. Otherwise, we're looking at 168 points in 204 games and a PPG playoff performer who has driven the Hurricanes in the only two playoff years he's participated in.

I actually don't think Staal is a viable option but it's only fair to gauge him honestly. He's either a declining player or a good player on a declining team, struggling to put up the points he used to while the whole league does the same.

This and my trade proposal is all about a bigger question: media and fans alike constantly say that all the Habs need is that big number one centre. Would you be willing to see the Habs mortgage the future to acquire it? Even though that future doesn't contain the one thing we allegedly need?

I just want a goal scorer, I don't care if he is a center or not. I say again Semin is our only answer.

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I want to see Emelin and or Gilbert traded, and a young piece brought in that has some speed and a nose for the net, with some kind of offense potential.

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I would guess that the next move will be to sign Galchenyuk. After that, ride the successful team that has played very competitively for the last 3 seasons and hope that one or more of Galchenyuk, Beaulieu, Kassian, Jacob de la Rose, DSP improve on their point production. There are a lot of youngsters able to take up some slack and the core is strong. If this doesn't work, I would expect a trade closer to the deadline.

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